Ksosh
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I'm a noob from Albany (NY) who just finished pitching my first batch ever (Scotch Ale 70/). I'm pretty sure this batch will end up being one of the notorious 'is my batch ruined' posts in a few weeks for a number of reasons:
-Added hot wort to *sort of* cold water, leading to a LONG cool down (3 hours?)
-Had to fish out the rubber stopper from the (full) wort/water mixture (with my hand (and most of my arm) after it fell in, since I couldn't find it any other way
-Probably pitched when wort was ~80 degrees (electronic thermometer frazzled out midway through cooling, so went with the 'sides don't feel warm' method)
-Added 3 trays of freezer ice cubes to wort to help cool it down (and bring pot to 5 gallons), without realizing the ice/tray/etc was unsanitized.
-Also, didn't get a chance to take a original hydrometer reading, as I didn't have anything suitable for holding the sample, and didn't want to throw the hydrometer into the full mixture and *further* contaminate it.
-Decided to add a tsp of cinnamon extract to the wort at the end of the boiling phase for the hell of it. Just reading now that it'll probably make my beer extra bitter instead of magically cinnamon.
In any event, it'll at least be an interesting experience, if not an interesting brew. I have a feeling I'll need to let this sit in the fermenter for 3-4 weeks, and in the bottles for 3-4 (months/years/decades?). This first batch was from the boxed kit from the lhbs, and I've got the ingredients for my next batch waiting in the wings (McEwans Scotch Ale clone). Now I just need to amass an army of empty bottles without my wife killing me!
Anyhow, hi all, and thanks in advance for the advice and comments on my future noob posts!
I'm a noob from Albany (NY) who just finished pitching my first batch ever (Scotch Ale 70/). I'm pretty sure this batch will end up being one of the notorious 'is my batch ruined' posts in a few weeks for a number of reasons:
-Added hot wort to *sort of* cold water, leading to a LONG cool down (3 hours?)
-Had to fish out the rubber stopper from the (full) wort/water mixture (with my hand (and most of my arm) after it fell in, since I couldn't find it any other way
-Probably pitched when wort was ~80 degrees (electronic thermometer frazzled out midway through cooling, so went with the 'sides don't feel warm' method)
-Added 3 trays of freezer ice cubes to wort to help cool it down (and bring pot to 5 gallons), without realizing the ice/tray/etc was unsanitized.
-Also, didn't get a chance to take a original hydrometer reading, as I didn't have anything suitable for holding the sample, and didn't want to throw the hydrometer into the full mixture and *further* contaminate it.
-Decided to add a tsp of cinnamon extract to the wort at the end of the boiling phase for the hell of it. Just reading now that it'll probably make my beer extra bitter instead of magically cinnamon.
In any event, it'll at least be an interesting experience, if not an interesting brew. I have a feeling I'll need to let this sit in the fermenter for 3-4 weeks, and in the bottles for 3-4 (months/years/decades?). This first batch was from the boxed kit from the lhbs, and I've got the ingredients for my next batch waiting in the wings (McEwans Scotch Ale clone). Now I just need to amass an army of empty bottles without my wife killing me!
Anyhow, hi all, and thanks in advance for the advice and comments on my future noob posts!
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vpOQ2OvTL._SL500_.jpg)
